NYP2003042603 - NEW YORK, April 26 (UPI)--Carson Palmer, QB from USC was chosen as the #1 draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals at the 2003 NFL Draft held on April 24, 2003 at New York's Madison Square Garden. jg/ep/Ezio Petersen UPI

Carson Palmer (born December 27, 1979) is an American professional football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls.

Carson Palmer was born in Fresno, California and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Carson Palmer arrived at the University of Southern California in 1998 and immediately competed for the starting quarterback job with Mike Van Raaphorst. Van Raaphorst won, but due to his ineffectiveness, Palmer was named the starter in the ninth game of the season, becoming only the second true freshman ever to start as quarterback for the Trojans. Palmer roomed with fellow USC football player, Troy Polamalu, who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a division rival of the Cincinnati Bengals and Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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